Meeting with Andrius Kubilius on SAFE 2, drones, space and strengthening the European defence industry in an environment of increasing geopolitical challenges.

In a period of intense geopolitical volatility and increased demands for European security, the meeting at the Ministry of National Defence highlighted the pivotal role that Greece seeks to play in the new defence planning of the European Union. Nikos Dendias received European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, with discussions focusing on the future of defence financial instruments, the development of the SAFE programme and the preparation of the next SAFE 2 framework. At the same time, critical issues of technological excellence, such as drones and anti-drone systems, space applications and communications, were focused in an environment where the strengthening of the European defence industry is now considered a strategic priority.

Specifically, the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, was received today at the Ministry of National Defence by the Minister, Nikos Dendias.

Greek positions

“We discussed the European Defence Policy and Space Policy, as well as European financial instruments for Defence. I stressed the need for corrective budgetary interventions in the preparation of the second SAFE 2 funding programme on the basis of the problems identified in SAFE and underlined the firm Greek positions on the eligibility criteria,” he said in a post on the social network X. Dendias.

“In this context, I informed him about the progress in the implementation of Agenda 2030”, Dendias added in his post.

Welcoming the European Commissioner, Mr. Dendias, among other things, noted that the meeting is an excellent opportunity to inform Mr. Kubilius “about how we as a country perceive the common European project, the need to strengthen our defense capabilities and to face the challenges that Europe faces in the 21st century.”

Focus on innovative technologies

Dendias spoke about Greece’s national priorities and our country’s approach to SAFE, stressing: “We put a lot of emphasis on innovative technologies, especially in space and communications, drones and anti-drones.”

“Apart from everything else, Greece faces a threat from the East, which we also have to deal with,” he explained. “And we are located in a particularly important geographical point in the European Union, in the southeast. The challenges are many. Of course, I believe that a 360-degree approach covers them all, and must cover them all,” he explained.

For his part, the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space noted: “We believe that Greece ranks among the leading countries in Europe in the field of defence, with your increasing spending on national defence. As I have calculated, you are among the top five countries, with defence spending of up to 4%.” “Undoubtedly, with your very active participation in the development of the SAFE programme projects, the money will come very soon,” he made clear.

“At this moment,” he continued, “we are looking at possibilities for signing the so-called ‘technical agreements’. There are new developments regarding the Ukraine support loan. Here, again, European producers can play a very important role. And of course, strengthening our industry is a critical priority for us, given that, according to publicly available data, Russia, with its war economy, still outstrips us in terms of production.”

The new challenges

As the European Commissioner underlined, “the transatlantic partners, who are speaking very clearly, will ask us to take primary responsibility for European defence and remain in a secondary role in Europe.” “That,” he added, “means that we have to be ready with our strategic capabilities and other things that are now being provided by our transatlantic partners.”

On the war and the overall situation in the Middle East, he said, “it is the challenge that we have to look at very clearly, and also look at it in such a way that our transatlantic partners, over the next several years, will spend a large part of their defence production on replenishing their stocks.”

“We are again facing a new situation, new challenges,” he added.

Finally, on the single defence market, the EU commissioner noted that “we find that there are many things we need to do.”

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